O Eldest Tree,
I look at your gnarled hands
which have witnessed all our history
as you sit in Time’s grassy lands.
You were already ancient when
we capped the great pyramid,
Long before that, you were Gilgamesh’s Haven
Under your leaves Adam hid
Methuselah scrawled his name in your bark,
your siblings built Noah’s Ark,
for Moses your leaves blazed in shame
Jesus smiled upon your leaves,
Buddha pondered the universe, your branches eaves
of the Great Prophets.
O Eldest tree
sheathed in mystery
all life bows before you,
including Ozymandias- who fell and swore.
When we knew no words
you spoke daily with birds,
before we built our Babel
you knew the River’s gabble.
O Eldest Tree
When you look at me,
So short lived, so tiny,
what is it that you see?
Am I even a drop in
the ocean of eternity?
To you, Eldest Tree,
where does my place begin?
Eldest Tree
please look at me
tell me I have meaning
something from me worth gleaning
For I feel like a wind
tossed in your leafed tresses
another of Earth’s messes,
O Eldest Tree.
O Eldest Tree,
Set in Time’s Sands,
Old when we capped the pyramids,
O Tree of Merlin’s staff,
I try to etch my name on you,
but my knife’s too dull
to pierce your adamantine skin.
~
NM
2/12/21
Feb 22, 2021
Feb 22, 2021 at 3:03 PM UTC
The world grew sick
it happened so quick
and so the people prayed
in spiritual foundations laid
the people went to see
the healers to be set free
hurt souls seek relief
and beyond belief-
~the healers got sick
songs lathered in Purell
as the death tolls swell
ringing out the Sioux band’s
cared for with gloved hands
~hands that caught rain
now wracked with pain
Standing Rock tumbles down
as fits of coughs drown
“My girl, I don’t know what to do-“
the words of a dying healer
once free to roam
in death
kept far away from her home
When they pass on
all that knowledge gone
the words and ways of old
lost as voices go cold
Breath taken away
also yesterday
is gone around the bend
ways of old set to end
-the sacred fire untended
No more secret Candy
or cherished smiles
veterans vanquished
peacemakers in pieces:
Porcupine
Bear Soldier
Running Antelope
Cheryl and Jesse Taken Alive
lovers from the start
Cheryl and Jesse died
only a month apart
holes in the Taken Alive heart
Their moccasins remain still
big shoes for others to fill
Standing Rock’s hills rolling
as graves keep filling
~the healers got sick
hands that caught rain
now wracked with pain
the sacred fire untended
... still, the fire burns
out of the ashes, Nola, a child
of those Taken Alive learns
to hear the call of the wild
Young pup’s paws will fill the boots in time
though Standing Rock’s still,
still it stands
rain to be caught by fresh hands
new ears record the tree’s chime
“We’re still here,” Nola said
Taken Alive stands still
at Standing Rock
~
NM
01/15/21
Jan 31, 2021
Jan 31, 2021 at 7:20 PM UTC
...in...hale...ex...hale...
When threatened with an absence of life’s essence,
we grab out where we can,
cling to primal effervescence.
Pure panic produces piety
when under a threat of death,
to quell our expelled anxiety
we hold on to Brighid’s* breath.
In streets of pandemonium
devastated by Death’s bell,
blooms the Chrysanthemum**
a bit of Heaven amidst Hell.
Just one more breath
before the dying day’s gone,
given over to the kiss of Death
a memory of long gone dawn:
planted, secure, in my arms
is an organic bit of hope,
for salvation from harms
a tender vine-like rope:
This too shall pass
there is an end to the storm
a return to lush grass
caressed by the sun so warm.
...in...hale...ex...hale...
~
NM
01/31/21
Jan 31, 2021
Jan 31, 2021 at 7:15 PM UTC
When today is all red
but yesterday was full green
-remember, we’re all in this together
When you feel your belly wriggle
due to their infectious giggle
-know that there’s sugar with the spice
If you are doing three
transfers in fifteen minutes
-remember, we’re all in this together
If you feel the garden hose spray
of their amazing joy-full day
-know that there’s sugar with the spice
At times when the top of the first
feels like the bottom of the ninth
-remember, we’re all in this together
At dawn of Thursday’s Eve
as you feel a week’s worries start to leave
-know that there’s sugar with the spice
When the bus has not arrived
but your patience has departed
-remember, we are all in this together
When success smells like sweet grass
freshly cut, or a masterful CLP class
-know that there’s sugar with the spice
Should the day’s turmoil find you throwing
your bowling ball down the wrong lane
-remember, we’re all in this together
Should you feel your day’s ride’s
Slick with joy like a waterslide
-know there’s sugar with the spice
Oh when today is red
but yesterday was full green
remember, we’re all in this together
know that there’s sugar with the spice
and for all of our sakes
keep your stick on the ice
~
NM
*In loving memory of
Jon Wiebe (1993-2019)
Jan 6, 2021
Jan 6, 2021 at 6:09 PM UTC
Practice
Others-Centered
Empathy
Keep
It
Simple and
Serene
Every
Second
~
NM
07/29/20
Jan 6, 2021
Jan 6, 2021 at 5:47 PM UTC
Sleep sweet, child
the new year comes
all yesterday’s troubles
gone as time outruns
the fear of yesteryear
the new year comes
what happened here
more than zeroes and ones
turning, ever turning as
the new year comes
remember what is dear
by the beat of drums
marching without retreat
the new year comes
full of joy, love, and hope
for what is to be done is
Sleep, sweet child
the new year comes
today has its own troubles
come as still time runs.
~
NM
12/31/20
*For Manar
Jan 6, 2021
Jan 6, 2021 at 5:37 PM UTC
Oh so dear a flower
I spend every waking hour
Dreaming of how we met
It seemed Fate had set
Our paths with cosmic power
Intertwined as strings in net
I was drawn to her grace
As the pale of her face
Let Life’s colour enter in
As we two begin
The end of the chase
Started conversation
And we danced away
Words and minds in sway
She lets me take the lead
Her trust plants the seed
For a new better day
Where I can meet her need
To feel resplendent
Beauty not dependant
On the pomp and circumstance
Of a perfect romance dance
My steps lead but are pliant
Give misstep a millionth chance
I adore her
She loves me
Deeply
Intensely
Completely
She and me
I need to be near her
Hear her heart whisper
Suckle the sweet residue
Of joy from knowing who
Is my true lover
And how her heart’s red
That should we ever part
My world shall fall apart
Leaving me grasping for air
Drowning without her there
As oxygen flees my body only a Gasping grasp for her care
I’ll always want her love
Swoop down from above
Greedy for lovers’ grub
Vie for it in the hubbub
While I am no dove
My heart’s no ****** stub
Oh dear oh dear
I beg her stay near
For she is my cover
My dearest sweet lover
Brush me here
Provide my cover
Oh so dear a flower
I was drawn to her grace
And we danced away
To feel resplendent
I adore her
I need to be near her
Should we ever part
I’ll always want her near
Oh dear oh dear
Oh so dear a flower
~
NM
01/19/20
Jan 6, 2021
Jan 6, 2021 at 5:36 PM UTC
As I lie here, half awake
my brain juices stewing
your memory makes me quake
with absolute longing
You come in quietly
sit on my mind’s edge
soft pads silent as Cait Sith
perched on a dream ledge
Your face is never the same
it’s what is within that I recall
I don’t even know your name
still for you each time I fall
We walk the dream land
your hand light on my wrist
our sweet union unplanned
a reaching through mist
It seems I arrive as you’re
on your way to leave
your foot through the door
offer me your bed for reprieve
It’s so hard to let you go
let go of essence effervescence
for your return I don’t know
beyond reminiscence
of those golden hours
when being with you’s my bliss,
O shape heart’s mind scours
from depths so often remiss
during the hours I am awake
so at night my heart will play
make my essence quake
wish never to go back to day
~
NM
11/29/20
Jan 6, 2021
Jan 6, 2021 at 5:32 PM UTC
This is not my skin
I will not, can not fit in
suited for some other guy
Left here to wonder why
Why the hand-me-downs
a shortage of cosmic gowns
too many orders in my size
a flood seeking my prize
To find which is my skin
have what’s out match within
a fit made perfect right
no pinching not too tight
chafing ended the tightrope
walker’s life scratched hope
for feeling something without
ends in a flight of doubt
I am sure this is not my skin
they tell me doubt’s a sin
well king of sinners am I
watch my eternal life die
ever wonder where I belong
on which fork turned wrong
where direction unravelled
took a path well-travelled
By those in others’ skin
outside differs from within
wearing the suit of some guy
merchandise we did not buy
stand here middle of the road
burdened by my heavy load
left here to wonder why
my eye cannot find I
Aye, this is not my skin
a shell I try to fit in
like a hermit ***** shell
my personal little hell
flames fan desire to know
where did my true self go
for surely there is another
my misplaced other
who also feels within
“this is not my skin”
I wonder how, wonder why
I cannot trade with that guy
Left here to wonder why
suited for some other guy
I will not, can not fit in
this is not my skin.
~
NM
01/06/21
Jan 6, 2021
Jan 6, 2021 at 5:30 PM UTC